New York City rapper releases video that brings the truth about Hip-Hop into schools
and, talks to 6th and 7th graders about the lies of popular rappers, their lyrics,
and the negative influence of the music they listen to.

Volunteers needed to help organize the first INTER-FAITH
COMMUNITY
SURVIVAL SUMMIT to be held in the city of Philadelphia. For information or to
volunteer or register as a representative for your place of worship, call
215.387.2734 or email:ifcoalition@gmail.com

One Sunday morning Bill burst into the living room and said,
"Dad! Mom! I have some great news for you! I am getting married to the
most beautiful girl in town. She lives a block away and her name is Sue.

After dinner, Bill's dad took him aside. "Son, I have to talk
with you. Your mother and I have been married 30 years. She's a wonderful
wife but she has never offered much excitement in the bedroom, so I used to
fool around with women a lot. Sue is actually your half-sister, and I'm
afraid you can't marry her."

Bill was heart-broken. After eight months he eventually started dating
girls again. A year later he came home and very proudly announced "Diane
said yes! We're getting married in June."

Again his father insisted on another private conversation and broke
the sad news. "Diane is your half-sister too, Bill. I'm awfully sorry
about this."

Bill was furious! He finally decided to go to his mother with the
news. "Dad has done so much harm. I guess I'm never going to get
married," he complained. "Every time I fall in love, Dad tells me
the girl is my half-sister."

His
mother just shook her head. "Don't pay any attention to what he says,
dear. He's not really your father."

Page 09

One day my daughter was out and I was in charge of my Granddaughter
who and had just recovered from an accident in which her arm had been broken.

Someone had given her a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it
was one of her favorite toys.

I was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when she
brought Granddad a little cup of "tea", which was just water.

After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my
daughter came home. I made her wait in the living room to watch my little
darling

bring me a cup of tea, because it was "just the cutest
thing!!"

My daughter waited, and sure enough, there came down the hall with a
cup

of tea for her favorite Granddad and watch me drink it up.

Then my daughter said to me, "Did it ever
occur to you that the only place that the baby can reach to get water is the
toilet?"

We will be spotlighting members and organizations weekly, if you wish
to have your organization spotlighted, forward to us information on your
primary mission, your current projects and/or how you would want other
members of The Coalition to be
involved. Many of us are already being a support to one another, but there is
plenty of room for improvement.

FOR OUR CHILDREN

Year Up is an intensive one-year training program for young adults ages 18
to 24 who provide Fortune 100 companies like Merrill Lynch, American
Express, Lehman Brothers and Bank of America with Information Technology
entry level talent.

We recognize that both job
skills and higher education
are necessary to provide a viable path to economic self-sufficiency.

Throughout the course of one year, our students earn up to 16 college
credits from Pace University, learn technical and professional skills,
and are placed in paid internships.

Students are paid an
educational
stipend of $150 per week while in training and $250 per week while working
at their internship.

Year Up is currently recruiting students for our next class of young
professionals. We are looking for High School graduates or GED recipients,
ages 18 - 24, who may not know what to do next - attend college or work
full-time.

Kids! Ever see those Clean
Water ads with drawings by Philadelphia school students?

Now you have the chance to
have your original drawing appear on billboards and buses all over the city!

The Partnership for the
Delaware Estuary is now accepting entries on behalf of the
Philadelphia Water Department for the 2008 “Clean Water Begins and Ends With
You” Drawing contest, open to Philadelphia students in grades K-12.

To enter, students must
illustrate the prevention or environmental impact of storm water runoff
pollution.

African-American student
participation is very much needed. Please have

any prospective students
fill out the application by downloading it

from the website listed
below and mail it to the address indicated.

Students that participate
in this camp have been known to gain summer

jobs for college just for
being in this camp. This camp helps students

to develop good study
habits and learn about engineering careers. Help

students help themselves.
This is camp is coed.

Currently MESET needs at
least 15 more students to apply. The deadline

is April 15, 2007.
Students are encouraged to apply from anywhere in the US.

Transportation is not
provided. However, the camp is free. As a

courtesy, staff members
will pick up and return out of town students to

the bus station, train
station or airport for free.

For further info, please
contact John Matthews at (713) 743-4226.

Please pass this message
on to any 11th grade African American student

with interest in
engineering.

------------------------------------------------

A Black History Month Art Contest for public school students grades 6 through 12, is
being conducted by Afro Cutting Boards with a $500.00 first prize. Two
winners will be chosen by our judges. The first prize in each division is a
scholarship that may be used for tutoring, school supplies, academic classes
and camps, or college expenses. A $500.00 scholarship will be awarded in the
Grade 9 – 12 Division; $100.00 for the Grade 6 – 8 Division.

“The theme of the contest is Soul Food. The artwork
must depict Soul Food in a positive and delectable way: food on a table,
being cooked, being eaten, grace being said over the food.

Artwork may be created using any 2D medium: pen and
ink, water colors, oils, charcoal, pastels, digital. Entries, accompanied by
application signed by the student and a parent or legal guardian, must be
received no later than 6:00 pm., February 29, 2008. Applications are
available at: www.afrocuttingboards/black
historyartcontest.pdf/. No artwork will be considered without a completed
and signed application. Entries may be submitted electronically or by mail.
The scholarship award will be announced on March 10, 2008.

For more information about the contest email:
contest@afrocuttingboards.com

---------------------------------------------------------

Resources for Children’s
Health’s SAFE program has openings for new clients. In our SAFE program, we
provide parents of children aged birth through 5 years with the information,
resources and support they need to raise healthy and happy children. A peer
and professional staff conduct services. Spanish-speaking case managers are
available.

JEOTMRadio is the brainchild of 2 young men
Jerry who is 12 years old and his brother RJ AKA Spidey Boy who is 8 years
old. JEOTM was created to encourage and foster the entrepreneurial spirit in
young people. Each show will feature guests that introduce youth early on to
business concepts and entrepreneurship.

By empowering youth JEOTM
Radio seeks to instill key skills that will enable financial independence.

"STOP THE MADNESS ,
STOP THE VIOLENCE" is looking for tutors for their tutoring
program at East Spencer Miller Elementary School at 43rd and
Westminster. Tutoring takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings
from 5pm to 7pm,
and is for students 8-12 years of age. If you or anyone you know can help during either
of these two timeframes, please contact Malik (aka Norm) Johnson, at
215-410-2859.

Please share this
information,
you never know
who has a couple of hours a week to help our kids. C&C Athletic Association also has a tutoring and
mentoring program at Eastwick Recreation Center at 80th and Mars Sts. for students, age 10-17. This
program runs from November to April. Contact Calvin Johnson (215-738-5181) if
you can help or know someone who needs to be tutored.

WHY: (Shyster): "Because it's long overdue!" Promoters of this
mentoring club say that it is NOT a "Lecture" format, not a
"scared straight" program; instead, spoken-word artists with a
burden for the community are coming together to offer young African American
males a positive environment to interact with each other and community role-models.
This is an attempt to curb violence and a practical way to put an end to the
senseless violence and bloodshed that tarnishes Philadelphia's image.
"We need 'real-men' Mentors, who have big hearts and a little

time
to spend with a young man who needs it--badly!" said Sam Gamon.
"Because, after all 'we are our brothers' keepers".

Join BlackParentConnect.com

BLACK PARENT CONNECT BENEFITS
1. You will have a nationwide connection with primarily African
American parents and other parents who have children of color.
2. You will receive EXCLUSIVE discounts and special offers with over
40 selected businesses that have created or represent companies with
items that will encourage children of color to feel proud and
positive about their heritage. Most of these companies are owned and
operated by African Americans which is something to be proud of in
itself.
3. You will receive a monthly email with not only EXCLUSIVE discounts
and offers, but the opportunity to win GREAT prizes from our Black
Parent Connect Shops. Each monthly prize will be valued at $50 or
more.

4. You will also receive special tips, news and
other parenting information when visiting our website.

(This is open to non-members as well)
5. FREE and Easy to join! Just simply join by clicking on our JOIN NOW page
on our navigator tab at www.BlackParentConnect.com

Joan Gosier, President
HBCU kidz, Inc.
954-302-4540 x701

“An
Education that is superior, exciting, challenging and custom-designed to fit
each student’s needs and interests.”

Volunteers Needed

ACCEL Community Cyber
Program is looking for tutors and volunteers for our after school program 717
Long Lane, Upper Darby, PA

The program takes place
Monday – Friday afternoons from 3pm to 6pm, and is for students grades K-8.

If you, or anyone you know
love to work with children can help, please contact:

Saturday, March 1st,
Award winning radio host J C Lamkin, will interview two of the founders of
The Coalition, Dr. John Churchville and Gary Adams on her nationally
acclaimed radio program, “Technically Speaking”.

The show will air 2pm
Saturday March 1st.

If you want to know how
you can become involved in this national effort to facilitate cooperation
between neighborhood and community organizations, tune in. You will find out
how groups are benefiting from being communicative and mutually supportive.

Don’t miss this
opportunity to learn more about this movement that has spread to NY, NJ, DE
and as far away as Los Angeles, CA.

If you live in
Philadelphia we're featuring a Solar
Cooker event this Sunday, March 2, at 9:30 at
Germantown Jewish Centre in Mt. Airy. Speakers from Darfur Alert will be
there, along with a demo of the solar cooker.

You’ve
never backed away from a technical challenge. Why start now? Raytheon
will immerse you in the most complex projects addressing critical global
problems, and will place you alongside some of the world’s most brilliant
thinkers.

You will have the
opportunity to advance your career as you push yourself further than ever
before, in more ways than you will find anywhere else.

When it comes to meeting
the qualifications for a job, is there any flexibility? That depends on the
employer, but in most cases, the answer is yes. Certainly, it helps to
understand how your own experience and needs match up to what the employer
wants and is willing to offer, which isn’t always an easy task, thanks to the
obscure language typical of many job listings. http://phila.jobamatic.com

Google needs business reps
- nationwide
Now you can Make Money Through the Google Business Referral Program and Help
Google Locate Businesses in Your Neighborhood
"As a Google Business Referral Representative, you'll visit local
businesses to collect information (such as hours of operation, types
of payment accepted, etc.) for Google Maps, and tell them about Google
Maps and Google AdWords. You'll also take a few digital photos of the
business that will appear on the Google Maps listing along with the
business information. After the visit, you submit the business' info
and photo(s) to Google through your Local Business Referrals Center,

Kidney Early Evaluation
Program
KEEP is a free kidney health screening program designed to raise awareness
about kidney disease among high risk individuals and provide free testing and
educational information, so that kidney disease and its complications can be
prevented or delayed.

NKF Serving the Delaware
Valley, Inc.
215-923-8611

The kidney screening will take place on March 14, 2008, from 8:00AM-11:00AM
at:

Incarnation of Our Lord Church
5105 N. 5th St. (at Lindley Ave. in Olney section)
Philadelphia, PA 19120
8:00AM-11:00AM
Remember, you do NOT need medical insurance to get the screening!
For more information, visit: http://www.kidney.org/news/keep/index.cfm

---------------------------------------------

Philabundance recently launched the

"Fresh for All"
program,

a quick and easy way to
put quality,

produce into the hands of
those who need it most.

The cost of fresh fruits
and vegetables is rising,

so these healthy foods are
the first to get cut when money is tight.

Where is Fresh for All?

Fresh for All sites are
currently located in Salem and Camden

Counties, NJ and Delaware
County,PA.

Delaware County Housing Authority
Community Center

1825 Constitution Ave.,
Woodlyn, PA 19094

• Distributions held every
Friday from 12:30-1:30pm.

St. John's Baptist Church

Provided inpartnership with Camden
Area Health Education Center, Inc.

(AHEC)

400 N. 30th Street,
Camden, NJ 08105

• Distributions held every
Tuesday from 9:30-10:30am.

St. John's Pentecostal
Outreach

22 New Market Street,
Salem, NJ 08079

• Distributions held every
Wednesday from 11:30-12:30pm.

Fresh for All Membership

Becoming a Fresh for All
member is free and easy. Interested

individuals are asked to
provide basic

household information.

Fresh for All is not
connected with anygovernment agency, so becoming a member will not affect any other
benefits members are receiving.

Members are asked to bring
their

own boxes or bags to
distributions.

Volunteers are needed

For more information on
Fresh for All or to become a Fresh for All

member or volunteer

please contact Tunisia at
215-339-0900 x238.

---------------------------------------------

Coming
Soon! Noted Herbalist Ann Pringle will be sharing natural health information
in this section. Ann Pringle has been a vegetarian for more than 23 years. She
initially studied nutrition and vegetarianism on her own, and later attended
Temple University where she took

classes
under a vegetarian nutritionist and herbologist.

Ms.
Pringle also lectures on health, herbs and has operated her own herbal
company for nearly ten tears.

Resources
for Children's Health's SAFE program has openings and is looking for
referrals! SAFE provides home visiting and case management, parenting
support, and family health and wellness education for parents of young
children, ages birth to five, in South Philadelphia. All services are free.
Spanish-speaking staff is also available.
To make a referral or for more information, please call Brenda Rochester,
215-985-6252 or email Brochester@phmc.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation is
committed to enhancing the quality of life for children who have health care
needs not covered by their commercial health insurance. The Foundation
provides financial assistance toward the family's share of the cost of
medical services. Learn more about us and how to apply. http://www.uhccf.org/

GRANTS And
SCHOLARSHIPS

The Philadelphia
Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is once again seeking applicants
for its annual Hiliary H. Holloway, Esquire Scholarship Award program. The
chapter's scholarship program, named after the late Hiliary H. Holloway,
Esquire, a past Grand Polemarch and Laurel Wreath recipient of Kappa Alpha
Psi Fraternity, as well as a

longtime
member of the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter, is designed to aid promising
minority male students in the public high schools of Philadelphia who are
planning to matriculate in college following their graduation from high
school. Applications and further info can be obtained from the
student's Principal or guidance counselor.

All
applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2008 to be considered. The
amount of the scholarship award is $2,000. A total of four $2,000
scholarships will be awarded in 2008. The fraternity uses the scholarship
grants to enhance the opportunities for minority males to acquire a college
education. The organization seeks to reach and assist those young men who
have demonstrated academic promise, but have not necessarily accumulated the
highest averages. Additionally, the need for financial assistance is
fundamental. Students who meet these criteria should contact their Principal
or guidance counselor about this scholarship opportunity immediately. An application
can also be downloaded from the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter's web site:http://www.phillykappas.org.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Support for Social Justice
Projects in North America

Peace Development
Fund: Community Organizing GrantsThe Peace
Development Fund provides grants to organizations working to achieve
peaceful, just, and interdependent relationships among people and nations.
The Fund's Community Organizing Grants support grassroots groups that are
organizing community members for social justice in the United States, Puerto
Rico, Canada, Mexico, and Haiti. Examples of issues that will be considered
include criminal justice, environmental justice, economic justice,
anti-oppression work, youth organizing, immigrant organizing, and workplace
organizing. The application deadline is February 15, 2008. Visit the
website for application guidelines and forms. http://www.peacedevelopmentfund.org/grant/-grnntrn.htm

Scholarship For Service
(SFS) is a unique program designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of
federal information assurance professionals that protect the government's
critical information infrastructure. This program provides scholarships that
fully fund the typical costs that students pay for books, tuition, and room
and board while attending an approved institution of higher learning.
Additionally, participants receive stipends of up to $8,000 for undergraduate
and $12,000 for graduate students. The scholarships are funded through grants
awarded by the National Science Foundation NSF.

Family Literacy Grants
The Dollar General Family Literacy Grants will award grants to family
literacy service providers. Please note that the Dollar General
Literacy Foundation uses the federal government's definition of family
literacy when reviewing grant applications. Family literacy programs
applying for funding must have the following four components:
· Adult education instruction;
o Adult basic education
o GED preparation
o English for speakers of other languages
· Children's education;
· Parent and child together time (PACT); and,
Parenting classes that teach parents to be the primary teacher for their
child.

SpotLight
ON OUR EFFORTS

In
honor of Black History Month,the
next three editions of “Spotlight” will feature local groups that have made a
significant impact on the Philadelphia community.

When Activist, attorney, NAACP president Cecil B. Moore
elected to launch an assault on the Segregated institution of Girard College
in
Philadelphia, he recruited a bunch of neighborhood young people to be his
foot soldiers. What he didn’t know at the time was the seeds he planted would
grow into mighty trees that would carry his message of no compromise attack
on racism all over the country. Several of these activists, led by the late
‘Freedom’ George Brower, eventually known as the Young Militants, are now
veterans of the movement and featured in the documentary ‘At The Wall’ by
Warren and Zilan Munas featured many times on Philly channel 35 WYBE.

“The events which transpired five thousand years ago; five years ago
or five minutes ago, have determined what will happen five minutes from now,
five years from now or five thousand years from now. All history is a current
event… Dr. John Henrik Clarke

If you are, there is a
meeting at the Hilton in Philadelphia this coming March 1, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
that will introduce the business opportunity

Areas of interest: Making
money, health, wellness and nutrition.

If you cannot come to
Philadelphia, but you are still interested in hearing more about the
opportunity, that's totally possible.

Please give me a call,

Melissa Shapiro

Artisan and Entrepreneur

267-439-2619

-------------------------------------------

March is "Women's
History Month" and though the historic Million Woman March is a special
part of Black History (Month) it also has an undeniable place in Women's
History; in that it is the largest gathering in the world of any women
anywhere.

Now that the original and
official Million Woman March has launched its International Movement for the
upliftment and empowerment of females of African descent, worldwide, February
and March 2008 is a great time for the unveiling of official MWM "Five
Year Action Plan + 2" Program for Power, Prosperity, and Peace.

Meet and greet local and
internationally known authors, writers, and publishers.

Learn about
self-publishing, copyrights, marketing and distribution, and more

Get inspired and also
share your work with both up and coming and seasoned writers

Sessions will be held
Citywide

Also: Introducing the
Million Woman Movement Book Club

and the MWM Suggested Book
List & Readings for Every Black Woman

To be a presenter,
register, schedule a book signing, volunteer, or for more information call:

267-299-6424 or e-mail
mwmsistahood@aol.com

-------------------------------------------

First
Person Arts launches First Person Salons at the Gershman Y
It was standing-room-only for every single one of First Person Arts’
notorious Story Slams in 2007, and now First Person Arts is bringing that
same energy and enthusiasm to a new series of memoir and documentary-arts
events: First Person Salons at the Gershman Y. On the second Wednesday
of each month, First Person Arts will showcase new work and works-in-progress
presented by the artists themselves to an audience eager to get an inside
look at the creative process. Writers, photographers, documentary
film-makers, painters and sculptors will put both their work and their
methods on display, demonstrating how they turn real-life drama into
compelling works of art.

Emerging choreographers
Jennifer Morley and Tamara Thomas team up on Friday, February 29th and
Saturday, March 1st to premier two powerfully individual dance works.The performance will take place at 8:00 pm
at Temple University’s Conwell Dance Theatre.Tickets are available at the Liacouras Center Box Office at
1-800-298-4200 or online at www.liacourascenter.com.

------------------------------------------------------

SECOND
SATURDAYS at SERENITY

An Afternoon of Poetry

Every second Saturday of
the month from 1 – 3 PM

A FREE EVENT!

Serenity Inspirational
Gifts & Coffee

140 So. Easton Rd.

Glenside, PA

215.884.4342

JUS’ WORDS at Dowling’s Palace

1310 No. Broad St. Phila

Every Thurs. 9pm to 1am

·Poets

·Rappers

·Singers

·Spoken Word Artists

$5.00
cover

COMING UP

Philabundance is
currently forming teams for the annual Walk Against Hunger on April 12
beginning at the Art Museum in Philadelphia.

This is a
fundraising event to help many hunger relief organizations.

Money raised
through Team 2 (Philabundance) supports our network of over 600 member
agencies in need of food throughout the Delaware Valley.

If you would
like to form a team, large or small, family, friends, church family,
co-workers, let me know so I can order your tee shirt for the walk by mid
March.Don’t hesitate to call me at
the number below should you have any questions.

MARCH 8 is International
Women’s Day, an annual, worldwide celebration which commemorates the
continuing movement of women for social and economic justice (formally
proclaimed by the United Nations on March 8, 1977)

JOIN US for Philadelphia’s
observance of International Women’s Day supporting the 2008 United Nations
theme: “Financing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.”

Sister Phile Chionesu, organizer of the Million Woman March, Mondays 10pm to
1am on Harambee Radio Welcome to Harambee Radio Online

************************************************************
************************************************************
The PHILADELPHIA BLACK PUBLIC ISSUES FORUM began in honor of the late
fr. Paul M. Washington, former rector of the Church of the Advocate at
18th and fr. Paul M. Washington Avenue in North Philadelphia. The
Forum, like Father Washington, is a provider and legitimizer of public
space for the free expression of dissident Black voices on public
issues central to our communities. The Forum's purpose is to provide
a public space and an opportunity to be heard to Black persons and
groups who bring non-traditional approaches to ways of thinking and
organizing focused on solving pressing community problems. Proud
member of The Coalition!
visit our website: http://www.geocities.com/blackpublicissuesforum.phila/
and join our Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blackpublicissues/
Gary R. Adams, Chairman
John E. Churchville, PhD, Founder
************************************************************
************************************************************

First Anniversary Issue!

The Coalition was born out of
the first Community Organizational Summit held at The Church of the Advocate
at 18th & Father Paul M. Washington Ave. on July 26th
2006. At that time more than fifty organizations signed on. Presently, there
are more than one hundred organizational members, and nearly one hundred
pending. The first FYI The Coalition Weekly Digest was distributed August 25th
2006, thank you for a great year!

"I, for one, believe that if you give people a
thorough understandingof what confronts themand the basic causes
that produce it,they'll create their own program,and when the
people create a program,you get action."-Malcolm
X

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved
in it as he who helps perpetrate it."

"We must work on . . .
attacking the causes and healing the effects."-Martin Luther King
Jr.